I need your input! Just one quick question….

January has been touch and go for nice cycling weather. Some days it’s pouring, some days it’s almost spring-like. With sunnier days on the horizon, I’ve been thinking a lot about getting my bike in better riding shape.

Over the years I’ve picked up some little tricks from living with a bike mechanic*, but this is the year I want to learn more about the mechanical side of my bike.

Maybe you all want to learn with me?

Proper bicycle mechanic attire.

I’m planning on putting together a series of tutorials on basic bike maintenance for non-mechanical types—everything from how to keep your bike in good running order to quick fixes that will help you limp to a bike shop if you break down during a ride.

First, though, I need your help.

I just need you to answer one question: What do you want to learn about?

I’m not an expert, but I’m planning to bring some in to help us all get set for another awesome year of bikey fun. Knowing what kinds of things interest you will help me plan a series that’s beneficial for all of us.

Sound off in the comments!

*I’ve also picked up some little tricks about living with a bike mechanic. I’ll be sure to share those, too.

Anything you teach will be news to me. I just learned how to change a flat tire last weekend and I’ve been riding for 8 years. Geez, so embarrassing to admit. My husband tunes up my bike and fixes it en-route if I have trouble on the road. Worked great until he began working out of town. I figured now that I’m riding mostly solo it was important to know how to at least change a tire. I ride all the time, know nothing about bike maintenance or repair. Did I mention how embarrassed I am?

Susanne–I’m totally in the same boat. I’ve been riding forever, but being married to a bike mechanic has seriously stunted my normal DIY approach to fixing things. He’s just so much more efficient, and actually likes doing it.

It’s super empowering to know how to get yourself going again. We’ll figure it out together!

my in-house bike mechanic ‘taught’ me how to change a flat. i thanked him and said i’ve never had to actually change one, some knight in spandex has always appears out of nowhere and offers to do it for me. he paused and said, you already knew how, didn’t you? me: i also know how to change a flat on a car, replace the seat, adjust the angle of the handlebars to relieve wrist pressure, replace a crank arm, straighten a spoke, and do minor plumbing and electrical repairs. but i thank you for teaching me.
chain adjusting. when the chain stretches and you need to remove a link, how do you know its time and how do you put it back together after you pop it.

Generalized maintenance/knowing when should I replace my ____. I’ve always ridden all my parts into the ground, and then go to a bike shop when something is broken and shock the mechanics that it got to that point. I’ve also never gotten the hang of adjusting fenders.

I definitely was planning on doing a post about that. I think there’s a lot of confusion around both knowing when you’ve ridden a part totally into the ground, as well as knowing when something *doesn’t* need to be replaced.

Especially if you’re going into a new bike shop where you haven’t developed trust with the mechanic. It can be hard to know if he’s telling you the truth when he says your handlebars are about to fall off and whatnot.